Controversial Diwali Gift: Maharashtra Temple Employees Given Chicken Masala Despite Religious Vegetarian Practices

Oct 18, 2025 02:03 pm CST

Temple employees at Maharashtra's sacred Vitthal temple in Pandharpur received chicken masala packets as Diwali gifts from their outsourcing company BVG, sparking widespread outrage among devotees, particularly the vegetarian Warkaris sect. The incident highlights a significant cultural insensitivity during India's most important festival traditionally celebrating light over darkness.